Safety apparatus

ABSTRACT

A safety apparatus adapted to be mounted above the rear platform of a fire fighting vehicle for retaining fire fighting personnel thereon during travel of the vehicle includes an elongated safety bar secured to support arms which are pivotally secured to the vehicle for displacement from an inoperative position wherein the bar is forwardly of the personnel and platform to a position where the bar is disposed rearwardly of the personnel. The height of the bar above the platform can be readily adjusted by an eccentric means, and the length of the bar can be adjusted by means of telescoping members which can be frictionally clamped together at selected positions of adjustment.

United States Patent 1 Miller Oct. 2, 1973 I 1 SAFETY APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Lacy J. Miller, Box 326, Mt. Olivet Church Rd., Welcome, NC.

221 Filed: Mar. 20, 1972 211 Appl.No.:233,924

Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado Attorney-David Rabin [57] ABSTRACT A safety apparatus adapted to be mounted above the rear platform of a fire fighting vehicle for retaining fire fighting personnel thereon during travel of the vehicle includes an elongated safety bar secured to support arms which are pivotally secured to the vehicle for displacement from an inoperative position wherein the bar is forwardly of the personnel and platform to a position where the bar is disposed rearwardly of the personnel. The height of the bar above the platform can be readily adjusted by an eccentric means, and the length of the bar can be adjusted by means of telescoping members which can be frictionally clamped together at selected positions of adjustment.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures SAFETY APPARATUS BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to safety equipment and more particularly to a personnel safety guard such as disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 103,597 filed January 4, 1971, now US. Pat. No. 3,672,466 dated June 27, 1972 which is adapted to be mounted upon fire fighting vehicles.

The invention is mounted at the rear of the vehicle above the fire fighting personnel rear support platform to prevent fire fighting personnel from falling or being thrown from the vehicle when the vehicle is in route to and from fires. The apparatus can be readily secured to conventional fire vehicles without modification thereto except for the drilling of openings for supporting the mounting bracket assemblies. The apparatus includes a safety bar which is adjustable in length thereby permitting the apparatus to be mounted upon vehicles of various widths. The height of the safety bar above the vehicle rear platform also can be readily adjusted to a selected position. The apparatus permits the freeing of both hands for donning fire fighting clothing or equipment in route to a fire or an accident.

The present invention comprises a safety apparatus including a bar means secured to levers which are pivotally supported at each side of a vehicle upon bracket assemblies. The levers and bracket assemblies cooperate to releasably retain the bar in an inoperative position generally forwardly of the vehicle rear platform while permitting the bar to be pivoted to an operative position behind the torso of fire fighting personnel standing upon the rear platform. The bar may be quickly displaced back to the inoperative position once the vehicle arrives at the scene of the fire or accident. The bar means can be adjustably positioned by eccentric cam means to vary the height of the bar above the rear platform. The bar, which is adjustable in length, includes a central sleeve portion having tubular portions extending from each end thereof and adapted to be displaced axially of the sleeve portion to selected locations. One end of each tubular portion is adapted to be expanded by a tapered member for frictionally, lockingly engaging the inner periphery of the sleeve portion.

One of the primary objects of the invention is the provision of a new and improved guard for fire fighting personnel standing upon the rear platform of the fire vehicle while the vehicle is in route to and from fires.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a safety guard having a bar of adjustable length comprising telescoping members and an eccentric arrangement for adjustably positioning the bar above the vehicle platform.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent when considered in view of the drawing and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. I is a schematic, side elevational view of the rear portion of a fire fighting vehicle illustrating the safety apparatus mounted thereon with the safety bar means being shown in full lines in the inoperative, forward position and being shown in broken lines pivoted to the operative position behind the torso of fire fighting personnel standing upon the vehicle rear platform;

' FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one side of the safety apparatus with parts broken away and illustrating the manner of securing the bar means to an arm and the manner of locking the telescoping members at the desired location;

FIG. 3 is a reduced, fragmentary, top plan view of the other side of the safety apparatus mounted upon the rear side of the vehicle;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view ofa mounting bracket assembly supporting a lever arm in the inoperative position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a mounting bracket assembly supporting a lever arm in the operative position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of one end of a tubular member illustrating the slotted end portion and the wedge member which is adapted to be drawn into the slotted end to expand the same to frictionally clamp the central sleeve of the bar means;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, perspective view of an eccentric cam arrangement which serves to secure each bracket assembly to the vehicle and to vertically adjust the position of the safety bar when in the operative position; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a fastener for securing each bracket assembly to the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawing, FIG. 1 illustrates therear portion of a conventional fire fighting vehicle 10 having I a rear platform 12 for supporting fire fighting personnel thereon. The safety apparatus 14 of the present invention extends substantially the full width of the platform 12 and the vehicle and is secured to opposed side panels 16 of the vehicle.

The safety apparatus 14 includes an elongated bar means 18 of adjustable length which is secured at its outer ends to arms 20 and 22. The arms 20 and 22 are pivotally supported by brackets 24, 26, one bracket being secured to each side panel 16 of the vehicle 10.

The bar 18 includes an elongated central sleeve member 28 for slidably receiving tubular members 30 and 32 in each end as shown by FIGS. 2 and 3. The tubular members are substantially identical with one end 36 of each member partially closed and adapted to be received within a recess 34 in the outer end of an arm 20 or 22. The other end of each tubular member 30 and 32 is provided with a plurality of slots 38 extending axially of the tubular member for a purpose to be described later.

A fastening assembly 40 is provided at each end of the bar 18 for securing the bar to the pivotable arms 20 and 22 and for lockingly engaging the tubular members 30 and 32 with the central sleeve 28. Each locking assembly 40 includes a rod 42 threaded at both ends and having a length such that it extends from both ends of tubular member 30 or 32. One threaded end 41 extends through an opening in the outer end of arm 20 or 22 and receives washers 44, 46 and nut 48, while the opposite threaded end 43 receives a threaded wedge or taper member 50 and a nut 52. After the sleeve 18 and tubular members have been selectively positioned relative to each other, the nuts 48 are tightened upon the threaded ends of the rods 42. Once the nuts 48 have been thoroughly tightened, further rotation of the nuts 48 results in rotation of the rods 42 which displaces the tapered members 50 axially inwardly of the slotted ends of the tubular members 30 and 32 thereby forcing the peripheral portions of the slotted ends radially outwardly into locking engagement with the inner periphery of the sleeve 18. Tightening of the nuts 48 also secures the bar 18 to the lever arms 20 and 22.

The lever arms 20 and 22 are supported by bracket assemblies 24 and 26, respectively, and each arm has a rounded end portion and an elongated slot 50 at the end remote to the bar 18.

As shown, the brackets 24 and 26 are mounted upon the inside walls of the spaced side panels 16 by fasteners 52 and 54. Each bracket is generally U-shaped having spaced, parallel walls 56, 56 and an inner connecting web member 58, the walls 56, 56 being spaced to accommodate the slotted end of an arm 20 or 22 therebetween. Each wall 56 is provided with a pair of aligned openings for receiving the fasteners 52 and 54. Each fastener 52 includes a bolt 60, such as shown by FIG. 8, having an enlarged head 62, a cylindrical bearing portion 64, and a threaded end portion 66. The fastener extends through the bracket walls 56, 56, through the slot 50 and one of the lever arms and through a vehicle side panel 16. The length of slot 50, the width of arms 20 or 22, and the location of fasteners 52 with respect to the bracket web 58 cooperate in a manner to releasably lock the bar 18 and arms 20, 22 in a vertically disposed position, as shown by FIG. 4, with the uppermost portion of slot 50 engaging the cylindrical portion 64 of fastener 52. An edge portion 68 of the arm 20 or 22 is in abutting relation with nylon member 70 secured to bracket web 58. The bar 18 can be readily displaced to the operative position, as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 1, by lifting the bar and arms 20, 22 and pivoting the arms downwardly.

Downward pivoting movement of the arms 20 and 22 is limited by fasteners 54 which are located below and rearwardly of fasteners 52 and which extend through the vehicle side panels 16 and bracket walls 56, 56. Each fastener 54 includes a bolt 71 having a head 72, a threaded portion 74 and an offset or eccentric portion 76. A nut 78 cooperates with the bolt 71 to secure the bracket to a side panel 16. The lowermost edges of arms 20 and 22 may be provided with bearing portions 80 of nylon or other suitable material for engaging the eccentric portion 76 of fasteners 54. With the lever arms 20 and 22 and the bar 18 in the operative position of FIGS. 2 and 5, the location of the bar can be adjusted by rotating the bolts 71 and eccentric portion 76 which raises or lowers the arms 20, 22.

The safety apparatus can be readily and conveniently mounted upon a vehicle by drilling holes in each side panel approximately 48 inches above and at a desired position forwardly of the rear platform 12 for mounting brackets 24, 26 and arms 20, 22. The telescoping feature of the central sleeve 18 and tubular end members 30 and 32 permits the effective length of the bar 18 to be adjusted, depending upon the width of the fire apparatus on which the apparatus is mounted. The bar 18 can be adjusted vertically behind a firemans back, when in the operative position, by rotation of the eccentric bolts 71.

I claim:

1. A safety apparatus for mounting upon a fire fighting vehicle having a rear platform for supporting fire fighting personnel thereon comprising; a pair of bracket assemblies for mounting in spaced relation upon a vehicle above and forwardly of the rear platform, a pair of elongated, spaced arms, each arm being pivotably secured adjacent one end portion to a bracket assembly, adjustable bar means interconnecting portions of said arms remote to said bracket assemblies, said elongated arms and said bar means being pivotably displaceable between an inoperative, generally vertically disposed position forwardly of the platform and an operative, generally horizontally disposed position for encompassing fire fighting personnel standing upon the platform, said bar means including an outer sleeve member and inner tubular members adjustably slidably positioned within said sleeve member and fastener means for deforming a portion of at least one of the inner tubular members into locking engagement with said sleeve member and for securing the locked sleeve and tubular members to at least one of said elon gated arms, each of said bracket assemblies further including adjustable stop means for selectively positioning the bar means above the rear platform and for securing a bracket assembly to the vehicle.

2. Safety apparatus as recited in claim 1, said stop means including a rotatable member having an eccentric portion for limiting pivotable movement of an elongated arm.

3. Safety apparatus as recited in claim 1, the innermost end portion of at least one of said inner tubular members being split, and said fastener means including a tapered member positioned within said sleeve and movable axially of the sleeve for deforming the split end portions of said inner tubular member radially outwardly into locking engagement with the inner periphery of said sleeve member.

4. Safety apparatus as recited in claim 3, said fastener means further including an elongated rod extending through said inner tubular member, one end of said rod threadably receiving said tapered member and the other end of said rod extending through one of said arms and having a fastener threadably secured thereto.

5. Safety apparatus as recited in claim 1, at least one of said bracket assemblies including an eccentric means for adjustably positioning said bar means vertically above the rear platform.

6. Safety apparatus for mounting upon a fire fighting vehicle having a rear platform for supporting fire fighting personnel thereon comprising; a pair'of bracket assemblies for mounting in spaced relation upon a vehicle above and forwardly of the rear platform, an elongated arm pivotably secured adjacent one end portion to each of said bracket assemblies, bar means interconnecting portions of the arms remote to said bracket assemblies, said elongated arms and said bar means being pivotably displaceable between the first position forwardly of the platform and a second position with the arms and bar means in a generally horizontally disposed position for encompassing personnel standing upon the rear platform, each of said bracket assemblies including a fastener for securing the bracket assembly to the vehicle and for vertically adjusting the position of said bar means above said platform to a selected location when said arms and said bar means are in said second position.

7. Safety apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said fastener has an eccentric portion for supporting one of said arms.

8. Safety apparatus as recited in claim 6, said bar means comprising a plurality of telescoping members for permitting adjustment of the length of said bar means, and fastener means for urging at least one of said plurality of telescoping members into frictional engagement with another of said plurality of telescoping members. 

1. A safety apparatus for mounting upon a fire fighting vehicle having a rear platform for supporting fire fighting personnel thereon comprising; a pair of bracket assemblies for mounting in spaced relation upon a vehicle above and forwardly of the rear platform, a pair of elongated, spaced arms, each arm being pivotably secured adjacent one end portion to a bracket assembly, adjustable bar means interconnecting portions of said arms remote to said bracket assemblies, said elongated arms and said bar means being pivotably displaceable between an inoperative, generally vertically disposed position forwardly of the platform and an operative, generally horizontally disposed position for encompassing fire fighting personnel standing upon the platform, said bar means including an outer sleeve member and inner tubular members adjustably slidably positioned within said sleeve member and fastener means for deforming a portion of at least one of the inner tubular members into locking engagement with said sleeve member and for securing the locked sleeve and tubular members to at least one of said elongated arms, each of said bracket assemblies further including adjustable stop means for selectively positioning the bar means above the rear platform and for securing a bracket assembly to the vehicle.
 2. Safety apparatus as recited in claim 1, said stop means including a rotatable member having an eccentric portion for limiting pivotable movement of an elongated arm.
 3. Safety apparatus as recited in claim 1, the innermost end portion of at least one of said inner tubular members being split, and said fastener means including a tapered member positioned within said sleeve and movable axially of the sleeve for deforming the split end portions of said inner tubular member radially outwardly into locking engagement with the inner periphery of said sleeve member.
 4. Safety apparatus as recited in claim 3, said fastener means further including an elongated rod extending through said inner tubular member, one end of said rod threadably receiving said tapered member and the other end of said rod extending through one of said arms and having a fastener threadably secured thereto.
 5. Safety apparatus as recited in claim 1, at least one of said bracket assemblies including an eccentric means for adjustably positioning said bar means vertically above the rear platform.
 6. Safety apparatus for mounting upon a fire fighting vehicle having a rear platform for supporting fire fighting personnel thereon comprising; a pair of bracket assemblies for mounting in spaced relation upon a vehicle above and forwardly of the rear platform, an elongated arm pivotably secured adjacent one end portion to each of said bracket assemblies, bar means interconnecting portions of the arms remote to said bracket assemblies, said elongated arms and said bar means being pivotably displaceable between the first position forwardly of the platform and a second position with the arms and bar means in a generally horizontally disposed position for encompassing personnel standing upon the rear platform, each of said bracket assemblies including a fastener for securing the bracket assembly to the vehicle and for vertically adjusting the position of said bar means above said platform to a selected location when said arms and said bar means are in said second position.
 7. Safety apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said fastener has an eccentric portion for supporting one of said arms.
 8. Safety apparatus as recited in claim 6, said bar means comprising a plurality of telescoping members for permitting adjustment of the length of said bar means, and fastener means for urging at least one of said plurality of telescoping members into frictional engagement with another of said plurality of telescoping members. 